The Osfjord
December 1924
Imperial Large Transport Plane Interior
Near Os City, Entente Alliance
The walls rattled the walls around them, which certainly didn’t help their nerves any.
More than a few members of the battalion had bouncing legs or hair-trigger nerves at the moment. Today would make or break the war against the Entente Alliance.
It all rested on the Imperial 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion.
Warrant Officer Teyanen groaned, “Ugh. My stomach is still in knots.”
“That’s why the Major made the soldiers with weak stomachs vomit before we got on the plane.”
“Don’t forget, Second Lieutenant Serebryakov, that you are also one of those weak stomach soldiers.”
Viktoriya mock pouted. “Well, that is true, and yet you don’t hear me complaining, do you?”
“I wouldn’t expect you too.” Teyanen laughed. “You’re the Commander’s flight partner. You must be able to handle anything by now.”
The others chuckled, exchanging a few more jokes in an effort to lighten the mood.
Propped up near the door, Major Tanya von Degurechaff cracked open an eye. She spared a glance out one of the wing windows, before straightening up and pushing herself off the wall.
“Well, I suppose-”
“Look through the glass if you are able, my battalion.” Tanya interrupted. “Below us lies the Imperial North Sea Fleet. We are to be their vanguard. Failure is not an option. I never taught you all to fail, did I?”
The 203rd remained respectfully silent.
“Today’s victory rests on our shoulders. Without our success, the Imperial North Sea Fleet will be forced to turn back lest they be torn apart by the Osfjord’s coastal batteries.” She walked slowly to the back end of the plane. The group’s gaze followed in rapt attention. “Additionally, our window for success is tight. Listen up! We only have 30 minutes!”
Tanya looked around for a moment.
“Well? Is that a lot a pressure on your shoulders? I certainly hope it isn’t too much to handle for my specially trained group of elites. There’s no way I’ll allow you all to fail the Empire, and subsequently, me. Is that understood?”
“UNDERSTOOD, MAJOR COMMANDER!!” They roared, more motivated than ever.
Her Vice Commander, Weiss, chose then to speak up.
“Commander, what exactly will happen after those 30 minutes are up?”
Weiss, of course, already knew the answer. As did the other Company Commanders along with Tanya’s adjutant, Second Lieutenant Serebryakov.
“An excellent question. After 30 minutes, the Imperial North Sea Fleet is expected to arrive at the mouth of the Osfjord.”
“And can we not expect any reinforcements by then?”
Tanya shook her head in the negative.
“The North Sea Fleet will have a regiment of marine mages on standby. However, I consider allowing the Fleet to arrive before ALL the coastal batteries are silenced too risky. In such a scenario, I will be forced to call the Fleet Commander and request a retreat.”
It didn’t need to be stated that Major Degurechaff would be vastly displeased with her soldiers if such a scenario came to pass.
The voice of the pilot could be heard over the intercom.
“The plane’s engine has been cut off. Now entering gliding phase. Escort fighters are breaking off for diversion-focused harassment missions. Entering drop zone in approximately 180 seconds.”
“That’s our cue to get ready. Prepare for descent!” Gear was shuffled about, and parachutes secured as the Major continued to issue orders. “Our targets are the artillery and torpedo batteries lining the coast. Neutralize them first and destroy them if necessary. Ideally, our boys in the Navy will want some intact batteries for their own use once they capture the Osfjord itself, but if the ocean isn’t secure by the time the Fleet gets here, it won’t matter. Remember, we only have 30 minutes! There will be no time for lollygagging and frolicking in Entente fields.”
“What a shame. I was looking forward to frolicking.” Third Company Commander Koenig commented slyly.
Tanya smirked. “I believe in you all. Do a good enough job and there’ll be plenty of time off afterwards.”
“Commander, how long will we be maintaining radio silence?” Fourth Company Commander Neumann interjected.
“Until someone botches the mission. Anyone who does so will face me for their mistake. If they managed to survive in the first place.” The Major shot back, then shrugged. “Otherwise, keep it quiet until our own reinforcements arrive.”
“What about enemy reinforcements?” Weiss asked.
“If Entente Alliance mages are too much for you to handle, then you are allowed to come crying to me for help. I promise to destroy them, and then you afterwards for being so pathetic.”
It was so nice having subordinates that knew the right questions to ask.
Tanya just loved it when the mages under her command didn’t ask stupid question like, “Why are you sending us away, we volunteered to be here?!” and, “Captain, do you really think you can take out an enemy Company by yourself?”
Really brought her mood up to see this level of competency in her subordinates.
“Second Lieutenant Serebryakov, you’re the backup commander for this operation. You are to order an immediate retreat in case of the loss of both First Lieutenant Weiss and I. Weiss, the same goes for if both the Second Lieutenant and I are eliminated.”
“What? Retreat?” Viktoriya said questioningly. Weiss raised a questioning eyebrow.
“If the enemy can take out both me and either one of you, then there is no hope for the rest of the battalion. No offence. The mission would be a failure of course, but at least some of you might survive if you retreat.”
Tanya stretched her arms above her head before walking over to the plane’s exit. Her hand rested on its handle as she turned to face her battalion once more.
“Company Commanders Koenig, Neumann. You will target the Northwest and Northeast battery fortresses respectively. Vice Commander Weiss.” She shifted her gaze. “You and First Company will assault the Abert section on the west side. I will take First Company to deal with the Narva section on the east.”
The others nodded. Tanya’s adjutant, however, had something else on her mind.
“Major!” Viktoriya exclaimed. “This is an important operation and flying alone is too risky. Let’s stick together, okay?”
She leaned forward to whisper the next part. “Please, no flying off to fight or destroy things on your own.”
“Second Lieutenant Serebryakov, I-” Tanya paused, reconsidering her statement.
Viktoriya had played the ‘important operation’ card. Disagreeing with her might discredit the seriousness of the operation and her rep as the battalion’s Head Commander. On top of that, she really was just worried for Tanya’s wellbeing. Hell, with the Second Lieutenant’s help, she almost definitely wouldn’t need to use the Type 95. The two of them together were far and away the Empire’s best mage duo.
“-knew that of course. That’s why, if anything happens, you’ll be coming with me.” The Major flashed her a grin. “We’re flight partners, aren’t we? It goes without saying.”
Viktoriya smiled back. God, I wish the word ‘flight’ wasn’t there. One day…
Weiss observed the interaction with no small amount of amusement.
The intercom flicked on again. “Attention. Approximately 20 seconds until we reach the drop zone.”
“Check your gear. Make sure you have everything.” Tanya ordered, serious face back on. “I won’t have anyone dying from a failed parachute.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it Commander!” Someone called out.
The laughter of the battalion was mildly subdued. That wouldn’t do.
Company Commander Neumann tightened the straps on his parachute. “Alright Commander, I think somebody needs to check the clock, because I do believe it is Go time!”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself.” Tanya said. She pulled open the door with a heave. “Alright! Everyone, drop! Go go go!”
-=-=-=-
The Osfjord was quiet this morning. Just as it had been the past several weeks he’d been stationed here. The room housing the Osfjord base’s main radio equipment was as droll as usual.
Its sole window had its curtains pulled closed, only adding to the drollness.
At least it was safe from attack.
God, it’s boring here. The recently promoted Anson Sioux thought.
“Any word from our patrol boats?” He asked.
Anson leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his knees and chin propped on his fist.
“No sir.” One radio operator responded. “None of them are responding.”
Anson’s second-in-command frowned. “Should we send someone to check it out, Colonel?”
“Hn. Not yet. Keep trying to reach them. If we don’t get a response after 5 more minutes, we’ll send a mage platoon.”
Another radio operator cut in. “Colonel, I’m getting reports of air raids at nearby air bases.”
Anson straightened up in his seat slightly. “What’s the damage? Anything we need to worry about here?”
The operator listened to his headset for a few moments. “Only minor damage, Colonel. From what they can tell me, the Imperial planes are only attempting hit-and-run strikes. Several runways have reported varying levels of damage.”
“Hit-and-runs. So, just aerial harassment?” Colonel Sioux muttered to himself.
“Are they just keeping us on our toes? Their main force is attacking down south.” The second-in-command said. “Are they trying to draw some of our own forces away from the front?”
“That seems likely, Major.” The operator replied.
Anson ignored them for the moment.
The patrol boats are silent, and the nearby airfields are under attack. He frowned. That’s two lines of defense potentially down and damaged. Why? To draw away troops? I’m not so sure. If they wanted to do that, they’d have to actually attack-
The sound of several explosions interrupted his thoughts. Anson shot to his feet.
Did I fucking jinx myself?
He rushed to the window, throwing open the curtains.
Destruction greeted his vision. Smoke curled lazily on the horizon, backlit by the numerous flamed corpses of the Osfjord coastal battery. Small groups of dots flit across the distant sky, drawing his gaze.
Mages? This close? Is that why the patrol boats didn’t report in? So, were they taken out by the mages? But then why are they attacking the batteries?
Anson’s brow furrowed in thought.
The airstrips. They’re attacking the airstrips to ground our planes. To keep away an Imperial plane perhaps? Ah, then they must have parachuted in! That’s how they snuck in so easily. But even so… these mages are only attacking the coastal batteries. So, why did the patrol boats stop responding, if not by an Imperial submarine or by these mages? That means something else is-
His eyes widened.
“Shit! Major! No time for orders from the brass; I’m making the call!” The Colonel clenched his fist. “Assemble the battalion, ASAP! This is an emergency sortie, highest priority!”
“Sir!” Anson’s vice commander snapped a salute and hurried from the room.
Lieutenant Colonel Anson Sioux grit his teeth, storming out almost immediately after.
An all-out attack on the Osfjord? This is bad… no, even worse. They got us!
-=-=-=-
“COMBINE OPTICAL SPELLS! AIM!” The Type 97 vibrated silently under her power. “FIRE!!”
A wave of blazing magic turned death ray tore through most of the battery.
Tanya wiped her forehead with the back of a gloved hand. A quick glance at her watch made the Major grimace.
“Let’s move! We’re running out of time!”
“Yes Major Commander!”
The group flew quickly to another set of coastal batteries.
“AIM! FIRE!!”
BOOM
Explosions, gunshots, and mana saturated the air of the Osfjord. Directly across the water, Weiss and the rest of Second Company were making quick work of the Abert battery. And, judging from the fire burning in the distance, the Third and Fourth Companies were doing just as well.
The mission was on schedule, but only just. They still needed to hurry. Tanya was an overachiever at heart, and not finishing the mission before the Imperial North Sea Fleet arrived was simply unacceptable.
“Major, contact!” Second Lieutenant Serebryakov yelled over the previous explosion. “It’s the enemy’s response unit! A battalion of Entente Alliance flight mages!”
Speaking of unacceptable, now there was this to deal with.
Tanya pulled up short, First Company falling into formation behind her.
Shit, we don’t have time for this. We need to keep attacking…
Her hand drift upwards to rest over her right breast pocket. It was just her imagination, but the Type 95 nearly seemed to hum at the thought.
I don’t want to, but I could just-
“Major.” Her adjutant’s voice cut through her thoughts. “We go together, remember? You said it yourself.”
Tanya’s hand froze, then slowly lowered back down.
“Right.” She spun around in the air to face her Company. “Warrant Officer Teyanen! Take command of of First Company and neutralize the rest of this section! Don’t wait up for me or Second Lieutenant Serebryakov. Go now!”
“Yes Commander!” Teyanen hesitated, “Be careful, Ma’am!”
He saluted, then rocketed away with the rest of First Company in tow.
Tanya quickly activated a radio spell.
“All Company Commanders! Radio silence is officially over! Progress report, now! Over!”
“Pixie 03 of Third Company checking in. The main battery tower is under our control. Moving to suppress the rest of the fortress now, over.”
“Keep it up, Pixie 03. Over.”
“Pixie 04 of Fourth Company reporting! Currently assaulting the Northeast battery fortress! An unsubmerged sub is in our way, over!”
“Pixie 04, sink that sub and move on, over!”
“Pixie 02 of Second Company reporting in. The Abert section is falling to pieces as I speak, over.”
“Good work everyone! All Companies, keep going. Don’t worry about enemy reinforcements. Pixie 05 and I are moving to deal with them now, over.”
“Commander, wait, that’s too dangerous. Take some of my men, will you? Over.” Weiss responded quickly.
“Negative Pixie 02. Focus on your mission. We only have so much time left; we’ll manage just fine! Remember our priorities here, over!”
“…Understood, Commander. Good luck! Pixie 02 out.”
Tanya cut the spell off.
“Alright Second Lieutenant. It’s you and me.” She side-eyed her suddenly nervous-looking adjutant.
Tanya didn’t blame her. Any enemy battalion able to respond this quickly was likely a threat, even to two veterans of the Rhine Front.
“Oi. I’m counting on you, you know.”
“Y-yes Major.”
Tanya sighed. “Don’t worry too much, Second Lieutenant. It’s nothing we haven’t dealt with before. I know you remember the Rhine Front. We survived there together, and we’ll survive here as well.”
“Together.” Viktoriya breathed out slowly. She slipped her rifle under an arm and slapped her own cheeks. A confident grin slipped over her nervous expression. “Together. We can survive anything together! Right Major?”
“Right.” Tanya grinned the same half-smile her adjutant knew by heart.
The same half-smile she saw in her dreams, only usually they both had on far less-
A blush crossed Viktoriya’s cheeks for a fraction of a second.
Tanya continued. “We’re partners, all right. Now let’s go!”
With that, the Major blasted off, her adjutant right behind her.
It was only after a few days that Viktoriya would think back and realize the Major had said “partners” instead of “flight partners”. The smile that came about from this realization wouldn’t leave her face until days afterward.
-=-
But that was in the future.
Right now, Viktoriya wasn’t sure she’d even survive the next couple seconds.
The massive optical spell shot by one of the enemy battalion’s Companies was the main reason for this. To be fair, it wasn’t technically aimed at her.
It was aimed at the rest of First Company way back behind her and the Major.
How did it come to this?
Using their superior numbers, the enemy battalion had in fact tried their very best to harass, injure, or otherwise kill Tanya and Viktoriya. It soon became clear that, despite only being two-strong, the duo of the White Silver and the mages some had begun referring to as the White Silver’s Wing were damn near invincible together.
They were veterans of the Rhine front, and very powerful to boot. The enemy was, at best, a well-organized group of Entente Alliance mages with only a few truly strong and/or experienced members.
They couldn’t hope to match the mage duo in the Empire – possibly in the world – and they found this fact out the hard way just seconds into the fight.
Hence the combined optical spell. Even weaker and with less true battle experience, the enemy had 36 mages against the duo’s two. Numbers alone served as a good enough distraction to charge up the attack. And it doubled as a tool to temporarily separate the dynamic duo.
The fact the Viktoriya was in the spell’s path was simply bad luck, really. Even then, at the speed it was moving, she could probably dodge. Easily, in fact.
But… then she’d leave the rest of First Company open to the full brunt of the spell. They were focused on attacking the batteries; They weren’t watching. At least a few of them were certain to get hit. And die.
No.
She focused her mana, bringing her active barrier to maximum strength directly in front of her.
Is this it then?
“Second Lieutenant!” A somewhat distant yell could be heard.
Major?
She glanced over. Tanya was off to the right, having just dispatched one of the last platoons from the enemy’s battalion. By now, the only remaining enemy mages consisted of the company firing the combined optical spell. All the other mages had already been wiped out or forced into a retreat.
“VIKTORIYA, YOU NEED TO MOVE!”
The Major’s mana flared up in a visible aura around her as she burst into action, speeding over as fast as she could. Both of them knew she wouldn’t make it in time. They’d been separated by too much distance.
It was too late.
I’m sorry. I never got to tell you…
The spell drew nearer; it was almost directly upon her now. Viktoriya braced herself.
“NO!” The shout came from far closer than it should.
Something slammed into her unprotected side.
Or rather, someone.
Viktoriya gasped, both in pain from her absolutely bruised ribs and at the sight of Major Degurechaff in the spot she had just been. Taking her place in the optical spell’s path.
“Wha- MAJOR!!”
In the split second before the optical spell hit her Commander, Viktoriya was able to see two things. The first, was Tanya’s expression turning relieved, as though happy she’d saved Viktoriya from almost certain death at the cost of her own.
The second, was the color of her eyes.
The right was its usual eye-catching blue hue.
The left…
The left was a shining, burning hue of gold.
The spell overwhelmed the Argent in an instant.
It overwhelmed her for an instant.
Before Viktoriya could even blink, a massive explosion of mana-charged aura redirected the spell up skywards.
Even without a detection spell active, in that moment Viktoriya could feel the sheer power radiating out. It permeated the air, sending chills down her spine.
The enemy’s combined spell continued for several moments before the mages let it go.
Viktoriya and the enemy company both could only stare, as the remainder of the utterly massive spell was sent up into the stratosphere. Then, it was over.
Movement caught Viktoriya’s eye. A body began to fall.
“Major!” The Second Lieutenant moved.
Luckily for her, it seemed the Entente Alliance’s mages were far too stunned to react. She didn’t blame them. Redirecting a spell that strong and not simply disintegrating from its power alone? That was unheard of. Impossible.
Except it wasn’t impossible. The proof was right here in her arms. Still alive and breathing, though clearly unconscious and wounded somewhat.
Viktoriya scanned her Commander for less obvious injuries. That was the only reason.
Her pant legs were torn slightly. The right sleeve of her overshirt was the same. The left sleeve was gone entirely, as were most of her belt pouches and her rifle. Burns covered much of the skin exposed by her torn sections of clothing.
The burn on one of her cheeks looked particularly painful, but not life-threatening or scar-inducing thanks to magic and the general competency of the Imperial military’s medical staff.
A smile spread across Viktoriya’s face for moment, before freezing in its tracks.
They’d been floating in place for a nearly half a minute now, and no one had attacked them. Viktoriya turned her gaze up to where the enemy’s remaining Company was floating.
…And floating was all they were doing. They still hadn’t done anything. Well, they were staring off behind her in an mix of shock and despair.
Viktoriya spun, careful not to jolt her unconscious superior.
Oh, the North Sea Fleet. Viktoriya thought to herself. That made sense. She blinked.
The North Sea Fleet!?
Adjusting her hold on Tanya, Viktoriya activated a radio spell.
“This is Pixie 05 to all Company Commander. Commander Degurechaff is unconscious, and the Imperial North Sea Fleet is approaching as I speak. Report! What’s the progress on our objective? Over.”
“Pixie 02 of First Company reporting. Albert section has been neutralized, over.”
“Pixie 03 checking in. The Northwest battery fortress is under Third Company’s control, over.”
“Pixie 04 here! The Northeast section is up in flames! Fourth Company has neutralized the enemy defense entirely, over!”
Weiss, Koenig, and Neumann called in turn. That still left…
The sound of several somethings flying overhead tore Viktoriya’s gaze upward. A smile split her face once more.
“The Narva section is destroyed!” Warrant Officer Teyanen dropped down beside her, a wide grin across his own face. “First Company will take it from here, Second Lieutenant. Get Commander Degurechaff to one of the approaching ships.”
He gave her a hearty salute. She nearly attempted a salute of her own, before realizing her hands were full of the Major. Teyanen chuckled and waved her away in lieu of a response, before blasting off to catch up with the rest of First Company.
Viktoriya nodded to herself and carefully sped away.
Noticing the still active radio spell, she focused on the mana going into it, slowly turning it off. It was a bit more difficult to do so without putting a hand on her Type 97 and while also attempting to delicately carry her injured crush to safety.
Before she could drop her radio spell entirely, another voice came over the radio.
“This is Captain Worth! Glad to see you’re still alive up there, 203rd! Whose line am I on right now?” A gruff voice asked.
“This is Second Lieutenant Viktoriya Serebryakov, adjutant and flight partner to the White Silver, Major Tanya von Degurechaff.” Viktoriya responded, speeding up slightly. “I’m approaching the lead ship now. Permission to land, sir?”
“Granted, of course! You all have done plenty enough. Let the Navy take it from here.” Captain Worth responded. “And where is the White Silver? I’d like to congratulate her in person. By the way, the ship you’re approaching is my pride and joy, the SMS Berlun.”
“Major Degurechaff is currently unconscious after protecting the First Company of the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion from an enemy mage company’s combined optical spell.” As the ship grew closer, she was able to make out people waiting on SMS Berlun’s front deck. “I’m carrying her to your ship as we speak.”
“Ah. Understood Second Lieutenant. The medical bay will be ready to receive her.” Captain Worth paused. “Uh, you said she stopped the combined optical spell… of a whole Company? I’m not a mage myself, but even I know how crazy that must have been.”
“Nothing’s to crazy for the White Silver.” A fond sigh escaped her. “You get used to the impossible when she’s involved.”
“Well, I’ll keep that in mind for the future. And, as I can see you up there now, I’ll go ahead and sign off. Good work out there, Second Lieutenant.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
She let the spell fade away entirely.
Viktoriya glanced down at Tanya, a ghost of a smile on her lips.
No deaths today. I will get my chance. To tell you…
-=-=-=-
Later, Night
SMS Berlun Medical Bay
Waters of the Osfjord, Entente Alliance
“Why do you continue to resist my will?”
“Huh?” Tanya attempted to turn.
An endless void met her. Time and space seemed naught to exist on this plane of existence.
Thus, her turning was meaningless. Every direction was the same direction, yet it was not. The voice came from everywhere, yet nowhere at the same time.
“You refuse the use of the Type 95 Computation Orb. In your battle against at the Osfjord, full use of this relic nearing God-level power would have allowed victory in an instant. But you didn’t even try. At other times, even in your sporadic use of the powerful device, you hold back its full power. Why is this?”
“Why…?”
Tanya echoed. A hot, itching, burning anger filled her chest.
“That device is a danger! Every over usage of the Type 95 risks damage. Headaches, nosebleeds, strain across my entire body… even normal use of the device can cause these effects now. It’s like some sort of shitty buildup of intolerance. And to think, I once used the orb on a daily basis! And you’re pestering me about not using it? Fuck off!”
“The damage to your mortal vessel is but a mistake. An unintended fold in the cosmic fabric. A fluke of the natural order.”
“A fluke?!”
“But, this mistake is not due to the Type 95. The near God-level power of the device gives you the ability to bring never before seen magical phenomena into existence. You must accept the power of the device and take your place as my rightful prophet.”
Then, Being X began to lie.
“As my chosen prophet, your nonacceptance and rebellion towards your allotted role has caused… ripples, shall we say. These ebbs and flows in your fate backlash through the power of the Type 95. The fault lies entirely in your own hands. Stop fighting it and become as I have ordained.”
“That’s bullshit! You’re just pinning blame when this has nothing to do with you in the first place! I don’t give a damn about being your ‘prophet’ or whatever. My fate is mine to decide! My future will become what I make of it! I refuse to become the puppet of some arrogant overseer!”
“Hmph. Perhaps that is what you think now. You will obey. You will be my prophet. This world of yours is far too interesting for anything else. For anyone else. I am an easily bored being, Tanya von Degurechaff. Fail to entertain and… well, it is said that suffering begets wisdom. Rest assured, if you continue this wasteful rebellion of yours, then eventually you shall be made very, very wise.”
-=-
Tanya’s eyes bolted open.
A cold sweat dripped into her eyes as she sat up too quickly, accidentally tugging at her various burns and injuries.
Wincing at the pain, she glanced around. The air felt… wet almost, and the room was moving. So, she was on a ship. Presumably in the medical area of said ship.
A trick of the light happened to catch her eye. The pocket of her torn overshirt, thrown over a chair next to her cot, glowed in the darkness of the room.
Tanya reached inside and pulled out the source of the light.
The gears of the Type 95 were silent, and the metal of its outer casing was cool to the touch. Yet, despite this…
It seemed to glow. Just for a few seconds.
“Being X…” The Argent whispered under her breath. “…I’ll never give in. Not to you. Not to anyone. This, I swear.”
Tanya’s brow furrowed.
But, I know I used it back then. I definitely did. Why did Being X claim otherwise? He said I “didn’t even try”. And he said this Type 95’s backlash was because of some “prophet” role nonacceptance bullshit or whatever. That’s also not true though. I know for a fact the test subjects before me experienced these same side effects, just on a far worse scale. So, what’s that damn devil’s game here?
Her hand gripped the orb tighter.
…And what was that feeling back then? That power?